The Way of the Gun (2000)

THE WAY OF THE GUN, the directing debut of USUAL SUSPECTS screen-
writer Christopher McQuarrie, is an off-beat, intermittently vio-
lent thriller starring Benicio Del Toro and Ryan Phillippe as low-
living bottom-feeders who try their hand at kidnapping. So they
snatch some rich couple's pregnant surrogate mother (Juliette Lew-
is), only learning later that Pops has extensive mob ties. *And*
that there's a whole passel of scheming supporting characters who,
judging by the none-too-subtle reaction shots we're shown, have
*their* own agendas. The rest of the movie ensues. Expectedly,
the dialogue's the best thing here. From poetic profanity to ex-
istential asides, this be music to the ears. Visually, McQuarrie
also stages some darn good (early) gunfights. They have a great
flow. And his many quirky details are cool, too, like the extend-
ed playing of a lonely game of Russian roulette. Or the image of
the ransomee's wife pressing her hand against a big-screen tele-
vised sonogram. Alas as a scenarist, the filmmaker doesn't do the
best-est in the believability department. His story has huzzits
both big and small and certainly distracting. Like that the kid-
nappers come off as seemingly expert strategists and yet never even
*think* to think that they might be followed. Oy. McQuarrie also
appears less-than-adequately skilled at actor-wrangling. Del Toro
and Phillippe are way okay, but nearly every other performance is
off-putting-ly off-kilter, be they spaced-out (Lewis) or seriously
overacting (Dylan Kussman, as the baby doctor). The latter turns
fatal in the second hour, when select scenes start playing like a
bad soap opera. And that damn dramatic music doesn't help one bit.
Woof! I walked out and went to the mall. With Taye Diggs, Nicky
Katt, Scott Wilson, and James Caan, whose nice to see on the big-
screen again. NURSE BETTY is very, very good, however. Review
forthcoming. (Rated "R"/120 min.)
Grade: W/O
Copyright 2000 by Michael J. Legeros
Movie Hell is a trademark of Michael J. Legeros

Originally posted to triangle.movies as MOVIE
HELL: The Way of the Exit